Transmission controls

ABSTRACT

Transmission control in which shaft tube is mounted in a steering column jacket for limited axial and rotary movement. There is a radially extending drive pin which is secured to the external portion of the shift tube by a tongue and groove connection with a mount. The drive pin is selectively engageable with drive portions formed in the heads of first-reverse and second-third shift levers which extend alongside of the shift tube and are rotatably mounted by a pivot pin radially extending from a mount secured to the jacket by tongue and groove means.

United States Patent Milton et a1.

[ 5] Mar. 7, 1972 [54] TRANSMISSION CONTROLS [72] inventors: Thomas .1.Milton, Bay City; Lehman J.

Connell, Frankenmuth, both of Mich.

[73] Assignee: General Motors Corporation, Detroit,

Mich.

[22] Filed: Oct. 21, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 82,746

[52] US. Cl. ..74/484, 74/473 SW [51] Int. Cl. ..G05g 9/12 [58] Field ofSearch ..74/484, 473 SW, 473

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,693,713 11/1954 Reid et a]..74/484 Primary Examiner--Milton Kaufman Anomey-W. E. Finken, A. M.Heiter and Charles R. White (57] ABSTRACT Transmission control in whichshaft tube is mounted in a steering column jacket for limited axial androtary movement. There is a radially extending drive pin which issecured to the external portionof the shift tube by a tongue and grooveconnection with a mount. The drive pin is selectively engageable withdrive portions formed in the heads of first-reverse and second-thirdshift levers which extend alongside of the shift tube and are rotatablymounted by a pivot pin radially extending from a mount secured to thejacket by tongue and groove means.

A teme TRANSMISSION CONTROLS This invention relates to controls and moreparticularly to a new and improved control for a transmission in'whichremote shift levers are selectively and drivingly connected to aselector member actuated by a vehicle operator.

Change speed transmissions are frequently controlled by a vehicleoperator through a linkage supported by the vehicle steering column. Thelinkage system generally includes a manual lever mounted adjacent to thesteering wheel convenient for manipulation by the operator. This manuallever is movable to actuate a shifter tube, which selectively anddrivingly couples to either a first-reverse shifter lever or asecond-third shifter lever extending radially from the steering column.Subsequently, rotation of the manual lever in one direction shifts thetransmission into one drive range while rotation in an oppositedirection shifts the transmission into another drive range. By rotatingthe shifter tube to a neutral position, the tube can be moved in anaxial direction to drivingly couple the other shifter lever to theshifter tube. This operation in moving from one shift lever to the otheris generally referred to as a crossover and the entire pattern ofshifting is generally referred to as the H pattern.

In the present invention there is provided a new and improvedarrangement of longitudinally extending shift levers which are mounteddirectly on the jacket of the steering column for limited turningmovement. One shift lever is stacked on the other for limited rotationwith respect to a common pivot extending from a new and improved mountwhich preferably is slidably fitted into a slot provided in the end ofthe jacket. The mount may be secured in position on the jacket bybreakaway fasteners if desired. The shift levers lay alongside thesteering column and extend generally longitudinally with thejacketinstead of radially.

This invention also features a new and improved drive mechanism forselectively and drivingly connecting the shift tube with any one of theshift levers. This mechanism preferably includes a drive pin whichextends radially outwardly from a drive pin mount secured to the shifttube. In a preferred embodiment the mount has a curved base withopposite sides having grooves therein which receive inwardly extending,retaining flanges struck from the shift tube. The drive pin extendsradially through an opening in the jacket and is selectively engageablewith drive recesses formed in the shift levers.

Normally, the shift tube and the attached drive pin are biased by aspring mechanism in one direction so that the selector pin engages adrive recess in one of the selector levers. When the levers are in aneutral position, a crossover can be accomplished by moving the shifttube axially so that the selector pin will engage a drive recess in theother shift lever to provide for actuation of that selector leverwithout movement of the first selector lever.

These and other features and objects of this invention will be moreapparent from the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. I is a view of a gearshift control mechanism within a steeringcolumn with parts broken away and in section to show details of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view along lines 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a view along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 4 illustrating operation of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing the shift levers and shift levermounting.

In FIG. 1 there is a vehicle steering column 10 in a vehicle havingmounted at its upper end a steering wheel 12 that is drivingly securedto a steering shaft 14. A shifter tube 16, supported within the jacket17 of the steering column, surrounds the steering shaft and has a curvedplate 18 fastened thereto. This plate and an adjacent portion of shiftertube 16 are formed with an opening 20 for the reception of the ball end22 of a manual lever 24. The manual lever is pivoted by a pivot pin 26to a lever housing 28 supported for limited rotation on the steeringcolumn 10. As shown, the lever housing surrounds the shifter tube and isrotatably mounted on a bushing 30 secured in the column 10. The manuallever 24 extends through an opening 31 formed in the lever housing whichhas sufficient dimensions to permit the lever 24 to be rocked on thepivot pin 26 and has a width which is slightly larger than the enlargedportion of the manual lever near the pivot pin so that the lever 24,housing 28 and tube 16 can be turned as a unit in either direction withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the steering column 10. A coilspring 33 is loaded between the plate 18 and the lever 24 to take up anyplay. A suitable flexible cover 32 is provided for the lever housing 28to seal the opening 31 and to provide a finished appearance. By themechanism described above, the shifter tube can be moved axially by thepivoting of lever 24 on pivot pin 26 or turned in either direction onits axis by turning of the manual lever and housing 28 in an appropriatedirection.

The shifter tube 16 extends almost to the lower end of the steeringcolumn jacket 17 which is formed with an open end 38 which receives adisclike support 40 that provides a seat for a coil spring 42 thatextends inside of the shift tube 16. The spring support 40 is fixed tothe jacket 17 by screws 44. The upper coil spring 42 contacts aninwardly extending flange portion 46 struck from the shift tube 16 sothat the spring normally urges the shift tube 16 to an upper limit.

A drive pin 48 is affixed to the end of the shift tube and extendsradially through an opening 49 in the jacket. This pin is utilized todrivingly engage either one of the longitudinally extending shift levers50, 52 supported for limited turning movement on the steering column.The levers are drivingly connected to the shift arms of a transmissionsuch as disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,025,714 to C. M. Bliss. Lever 52preferably controls the first-reverse gearing in the transmission whilelever 50 controls the second-third gearing. As shown, the drive pin 48projects from a capsule-type mount having an arcuate base portion 54having tracklike slots along either side which receive inwardly facingflanges 56 struck from the shift tube.

The drive pin and its base portion 54 may be retained in position withsuitable breakaway-type pins 58 if desired. Levers 50 and 52 are mountedfor limited rotation on a shift lever mount 60 which has grooves 62formed in opposite sides thereof which receive the straight-edged tongueportions 64 of the jacket 17 formed by extending opening 49 to the lowerend of the jacket as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 7. The shift lever mountcan be easily inserted into the opening provided and secured in positionby breakaway pins 68 that project into suitable openings formed in thejacket. The shift lever mount has an upstanding pivot 72 which extendsthrough pivot openings formed in both of the shift levers. A suitablewasher and a snap ring are utilized to hold the shift levers on theshift lever mount. As best shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7, the shift levermount 60 has a second, upstanding projection 74 which extends througharcuate guide slots 76 and 78 in the shift levers 50 and 52respectively. A suitable washer and snap ring are used to retain the pinin the slots 76 and 78.

FIG. 4 shows the drive pin 48 in a neutral position and located withinthe confines of a T-shaped opening 79, fonned in a head portion of lever50. The T-shaped opening has a slot portion 81 which extends laterallyin the head and has a con-. necting, longitudinally extending drivenotch 80. The drive notch 80 is adapted to receive the pin 48 so thatthe shift tube can turn the lever 50. If the operator turns the manuallever 24 in one direction, the pin 48 will engage one of the sidewallsforming drive notch 80 to turn the shift lever on pivot pin 72 as shownin FIG. 5 to select a predetermined gear ratio, for example, secondgear. By turning the manual lever and shift tube in an oppositedirection, the pin will engage the opposite sidewall of drive notch 80to turn lever 50 in an opposite direction to select third gear.

If the levers 50 and 52 are in the neutral position shown in FIG. 4, acrossover can be made by turning the manual lever on pivot pin 26 tomove the shift tube axially downwardly.

When this occurs the pin engages a drive notch 82 formed in the head offirst reverse shift lever 52 which is longitudinally spaced from thedrive notch 80. The laterally extending slot portion of the T-shapedopening is coplanar with drive notch 82 to accommodate movement of thedrive pin when lever 52 is being actuated. With this lever drivinglyconnected to the shifi tube, first or reverse gear can be selected byappropriately turning the shift tube to rotate shifter lever 52clockwise or counterclockwise as best shown by FIG. 6.

From the above it will be appreciated that a compact assembly of remoteshift levers is provided. The assembly and disassembly of these leversis enhanced by the utilization of the capsule-type mounts for the leversupport and the drive pin. In the event that the control is to beutilized with an automatic transmission, the invention can be modifiedfor that purpose by removing one of the levers from the system and usingthe remaining lever.

While preferred embodiment of this invention has been shown anddescribed, other embodiments are now readily apparent. Thus, thisinvention is not to be limited to the construction shown and describedbut by the claims which follow:

What is claimed is:

l. A control for a change speed transmission comprising a fixed support,a shift tube movably mounted by said support for limited longitudinaland rotary movement, yieldable means mounted on said support andengaging said shift tube for biasing said shift tube to a predeterminedposition, pivot means projecting outwardly from said support,longitudinally extending shift lever means mounted on said pivot meansfor limited turning movement on said support for controlling atransmission, said shift lever means having a head portion, drive meanscarried by an end portion of said shift tube and extending outwardlytherefrom, said drive means being selectively engageable with said headportion to drivingly connect said shift tube to said shift lever meansso that limited rotary movement of said shift tube will turn said shiftlever means with respect to said pivot means to effect ratio change inthe transmission.

2. A transmission control comprising a longitudinally extending supportmember, an actuator mounted for limited longitudinal and turningmovement with respect to said support member, a drive pin extendingoutwardly from said actuator, a base member supporting said drive pin onsaid actuator, a pair of shift levers extending longitudinally with saidsupport member, a mount for said shift levers having a base memberremovably secured to said support member, said mount having a pivotextending outwardly from said support member for said shift levers, saidlevers having head portions with drive notches therein for receivingsaid drive pin, said drive notches being longitudinally spaced from eachother so that said drive pin can be moved by said actuator to engage oneof said notches to effect the turning of a selected one of said leversin response to predetermined rotation of said actuator.

3. The transmission control of claim 2 wherein said base members havegroove means on the opposite sides thereof which receive tongue meansextending from said actuator and said support member respectively, andsaid head portion of one of said shift levers having a laterallyextending slot com municating with said drive notch therein to receivesaid drive pin and accommodate the movement of the other of said shiftlevers.

4. In a transmission control having a steering column with a cylindricalmast jacket, a shift tube supported for limited axial and rotarymovement in said mast jacket, spring means for biasing said shift tubeto a predetemiined position, lever means for moving said shift tubeaxially in said jacket and for turning said shift tube in eitherdirection, a drive pin extending radially from said shift tube throughan opening in said mast jacket, retainer means for fixedly securing saiddrive pin to said shift tube, a pair of remote shift levers extending inthe same general direction as said jecket, support means secured to saidjacket having a radially extending pivot, means for mounting said remoteshift levers on said pivot, each of said shift levers having a headportion with a drive notch therein, said drive notches beinglongitudinally spaced from each other so that said drive pin can engageonly one notch at a time, and control means for moving said shift tubeand said pin from one of said notches into engagement with the other ofsaid notches so that a selected one of said shift levers can be turnedin response to the turning of said shift tube.

5. In a transmission control, a steering column jacket, a transmissioncontrol tube disposed within said jacket and mounted for limitedlongitudinal and rotary movement therein, manual lever means operativelyconnected to said control tube, spring means disposed within said jacketand extending within said control tube for exerting a force thereon tourge said tube to a predetermined position, a spring seat for saidspring means disposed within said jacket and secured therein, a drivepin having a mounting block secured to an ex temal portion of saidcontrol tube, said drive pin projecting radially therefrom, an openingin said jacket for the passage of said drive pin therethrough, a pair ofshift levers for controlling a transmission which extends alongside ofsaid jacket, a mounting block for said control levers securely fixed tosaid jacket, said block having a radially disposed pivot pin projectingtherefrom, said shift levers being operatively pivoted on said pivot pinand having an arcuate guide slot therein, a guide pin extending radiallyfrom said jacket and extending through said arcuate slots formed in saidshift levers, each of said shift levers having a head portion with adrive notch therein for the reception of said drive pin, one of saidlevers having a laterally extending opening in said head portion thereofcommunicating with the drive notch therein to receive said drive pin,said notches being longitudinally displaced from each other and beingaligned when said levers are in a neutral position, said drive pin beingnormally engaged with one of said notches and being movable in responseto axial .movement of said control tube by operation of said manuallever against the opposing force of said spring means into said othernotch and into said laterally extending opening to permit one of saidshift levers to be moved without the movement of the other of said shiftlevers.

1. A control for a change speed transmission comprising a fixed support,a shift tube movably mounted by said support for limited longitudinaland rotary movement, yieldable means mounted on said support andengaging said shift tube for biasing said shift tube to a predeterminedposition, pivot means projecting outwardly from said support,longitudinally extending shift lever means mounted on said pivot meansfor limited turning movement on said support for controlling atransmission, said shift lever means having a head portion, drive meanscarried by an end portion of said shift tube and extending outwardlytherefrom, said drive means being selectively engageable with said headportion to drivingly connect said shift tube to said shift lever meansso that limited rotary movement of said shift tube will turn said shiftlever means with respect to said pivot means to effect ratio change inthe transmission.
 2. A transmission control comprising a longitudinallyextending support member, an actuator mounted for limited longitudinaland turning movement with respect to said support member, a drive pinextending outwardly from said actuator, a base member supporting saiddrive pin on said actuator, a pair of shift levers extendinglongitudinally with said support member, a mount for said shift levershaving a base member removably secured to said support member, saidmount having a pivot extending outwardly from said support member forsaid shift levers, said levers having head portions with drive notchestherein for receiving said drive pin, said drive notches beinglongitudinally spaced from each other so that said drive pin can bemoved by said actuator to engage one of said notches to effect theturning of a selected one of said levers in response to predeterminedrotation of said actuator.
 3. The transmission control of claim 2wherein said base members have groove means on the opposite sidesthereof which receive tongue means extending from said actuator and saidsupport member respectively, and said head portion of one of said shiftlevers having a laterally extending slot communicating with said drivenotch therein to receive said drive pin and accommodate the movement ofthe other of said shift levers.
 4. In a transmission control having asteering column with a cylindrical mast jacket, a shift tube supportedfor limited axial and rotary movement in said mast jacket, spring meansfor biasing said shift tube to a predetermined position, lever means formoving said shift tube axially in said jacket and for turning said shifttube in either direction, a drive pin extending radially from said shifttube through an opening in said mast jacket, retainer means for fixedlysecuring said drive pin to said shift tube, a pair of remote shiftlevers extending in the same general direction as said jecket, supportmeans secured to said jacket having a radially extending pivot, meansfor mounting said remote shift levers on said pivot, each of said shiftlevers having a head portion with a drive notch therein, said drivenotches being longitudinally spaced from each other so that said drivepin can engage only one notch at a time, and control means for movingsaid shift tube and said pin from one of said notches into engagementwith the other of said notches so that a selected one of said shiftlevers can be turned in response to the turning of said shift tube. 5.In a transmission control, a steering column jacket, a transmissioncontrol tube disposed within said jacket and mounted for limitedlongitudinal and rotary movement therein, manual lever means operativelyconnected to said control tube, spring means disposed within said jacketand extending within said control tube for exerting a force thereon tourge said tube to a predetermined position, a spring seat for saidspring means disposed within said jacket and secured therein, a drivepin having a mounting block secured to an external portion of saidcontrol tube, said drive pin projecting radially therefrom, an openingin said jacket for the passage of said drive pin therethrough, a pair ofshift levers for controlling a transmission which extends alongside ofsaid jacket, a mounting block for said control levers securely fixed tosaid jacket, said block having a radially disposed pivot pin projectingtherefrom, said shift levers being operatively pivoted on said pivot pinand having an arcuate guide slot therein, a guide pin extending radiallyfrom said jacket and extending through said arcuate slots formed in saidshift levers, each of said shift levers having a head portion with adrive notch therein for the reception of said drive pin, one of saidlevers having a laterally extending opening in said head portion thereofcommunicating with the drive notch therein to receive said drive pin,said notches being longitudinally displaced from each other and beingaligned when said levers are in a neutral position, said drive pin beingnormally engaged with one of said notches and being movable in responseto axial movement of said control tube by operation of said manual leveragainst the opposing force of said spring means into said other notchand into said laterally extending opening to permit one of said shiftlevers to be moved without the movement of the other of said shiftlevers.